Advice On Claiming For An Accident At Work

In addition to receiving a weekly wage or monthly salary, your employer must also ensure you remain free from harm whilst you are at work. Failing to create a safe environment could result in accidents and injuries, which is far from ideal for both parties.

Injured employees are likely to take sick leave or even leave of absence from work to receive treatment and recover, and the employer will not have a valuable human resource available whilst they are off work sick. So, we can see then that in this type of situation, nobody wins!

Apart from this, the employer could also find themselves on a sticky wicket legally speaking if they have not ensured that they have taken all possible measures to ensure workplace safety for their staff.

From simply tripping over an unsecured computer cable to falling from heights in a warehouse, there are scores of different reasons why accidents and injuries may happen. But if you can prove that your employer didn’t fulfil their legal duty of care in protecting you at work, you may be able to claim compensation.

However, a great many people are still naturally going to be a bit reluctant or unsure about pursuing the claims route due to the complex nature of personal injury law. So, to help in your decision making, should you have suffered from a work accident, we have compensation specialist Accident Compensation 4UK here to provide some handy advice.

Starting the Process

It is important to know that there is a time limit for personal injury claims of three years from the date upon which the accident took place. However, with industrial illness such as asbestos-related diseases, this time limit is more flexible.

Even so, you should start the claims process as soon as possible, which means gathering information including:

Your entry in the company accident book – This should be common practice for every employer.

Statements from accident witnesses – If possible, these should be taken immediately afterwards.

Footage from CCTV footage – Employers may be reluctant to hand this over, but it is their legal obligation to do so.

Photographs from the accident – This can also include images of your injury.

Records of medical appointments – Doctors will be more than happy to provide evidence to back up your claim.

Concerns Over Claiming Against Your Employer

It is natural to feel a bit uneasy when claiming compensation against your employer. However, you need to remember that they may have failed in their legal duty to protect you. On top of this, any compensation will usually be covered by your employer’s insurance and won’t come from their own pockets or the pay packets of your colleagues.

You may also be anxious about losing your job as a result of pursuing a case. But it is illegal for an employer to sack, harass, or mistreat someone for claiming personal injury compensation, as stated in the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Knowing what you can Claim for

Examples of injuries you can claim for include:

Noise-induced hearing loss

Repetitive strain injuries

Forklift accidents

Vibration white finger

Industrial injuries

Slips, trips, and falls

All of these can be because of inadequate training, a lack of supervision, or faulty equipment and machinery.

After suffering an injury at work, you may have to take time off for medical treatment or simply to rest and recover. For most people, this can result in financial difficulty due to a loss of earnings.

Thankfully, personal injury compensation claims can help you recover lost wages while off work. This is something a solicitor can deal with, as they will put a value on the claim before submitting it to your employer.

If in any doubt we would recommend that you do seek legal advice regarding your own personal situation. Click here for helpful advice and information to hopefully set you on the road to financial recovery!